Selene POV
December 23
“Are you ready?” Michael asked for the third time since he came to pick me up.
“Michael ask me that one more time and I swear I’ll shove my stiletto up your ass.” I retort packing my bag I procrastinated doing because I didn’t want to go.
He rolls his eyes his groans. “Your parents live 4 hours away Selene, I don’t want to get there when night falls.”
“No one asked you to pick me up. I can drive myself.”
“How would that look to your parents? The happy couples driving separately.” He says smug.
I roll my eyes and zip up my suitcase and hand it to him. “Make yourself useful please?” I say and he takes it. We walk out of my room and Zarina is sitting with a wine glass in the living room eyeing us knowingly. “Say it.”
She shrugs. “I don’t understand why you’re going. You can talk to them over the phone, it’ll make them disowning you easier.” She says.
“Ri I love you and I understand but this is something I have to do so they know I’m serious. I’m not even doing it for Cameron anymore. She’s made it clear she’s done.” She goes to say something but I stop her. “Not today Rina please.” She nods and I hug her bye. “I’ll text you when we make it. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She says and I walk out to meet Michael at his grey Mercedes Benz.
“Finally, we can still make it before sun goes down.” He says starting the car when I get in and drives off.
4 hours Later
The ride is silent until we pull up to the white and black 1 story ranch style house that I grew up in. This is probably the last time I’ll be here after Christmas. The thought makes me sad but I know it needs to be done.
“Can you help me? Your bag is killing my shoulder?!” His annoying voice makes me cringe and I roll my eyes and snatch my bag from him and walk up the graveled drive way.
I don’t even have the opportunity to knock when the door opens revealing a 5’6 grey haired woman with wrinkles at the corner of her mocha brown eyes as she smiles, and in blue floral dress. “Hey mom.” I say with a smile.
“Oh there’s my baby.” She pulls me to a hug. “Mmph how I missed you.” Her eyes goes over my shoulder. Here it goes. “And look at this! Finally you’ve come!” She says to Michael while hugging him and instantly I want to just out right say it but I hold off and walk in tuning out their conversation.
“Is that my favorite daughter?” My dad calls out joking.
“Dad I’m your only daughter.” I say smiling hugging his torso taking in his dolce gabana cologne.
“That we know of.” He winks when we pull away. My dad is a 6’2 generic white man who I’m quite positive votes for anyone that relates to the 1% with his blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, and scruffy beard and always has a suit on even when he’s in the house.
“Quit saying that!” My mom walks in with Michael trailing behind her.
“David, it’s so good to see you. It’s been too long.” Michael says greeting my dad and they shake hands like they just made a deal. They kinda have with this engagement. I roll my eyes.
“It has. My little girl has been spending the holidays here without you i was beginning to worry.” He says.
Michael slips his arm around my waist pulls me to his side. I feel the bile. “I’ve just been busy with cases. But I always make it up to her. Right baby?” He says looking at me smiling.
I put on a forced smile and just nod. “I have to call Zarina. I’ll be back.” I say.
“You still talk to her?” My dad asks with a look of disgust and I fight the urge to go off for his thinking.
“Yes. She’s my best friend dad. She’s been there for me and I couldn’t ask for anyone greater. Now excuse me.” I say and head to the back yard to speak on the phone.
“Hello?”
The sound of her voice after 3 weeks makes my heart swell and I feel tears forming. “Uh hi.” I breath out nervously.
“Long time.” I hear her slight chuckle.
“Yes it has. Look I’m honestly just glad you answered but I’m at my parents. And I’m planning to tell them about the engagement and the lack thereof and, me, and I was hoping I could tell them about an ‘us’.” I say looking at the mountains that fall behind the 2 acres of land.
I hear her sigh and I feel a tear fall. “Are you there with him?” She asks and my eyes shut in defeat. I know she’s going to say no when I tell her.
“Jordyn, it’s just so I can make things easier. I have no feelings for him.” I state wanting her to semi understand.
“Selene, talk to them all you want. Do it for yourself. But so long as he’s even somewhat in your life, I won’t be. Merry Christmas.” She says and hangs up before I can even respond. The tears fall hard from the silence.
I call Zarina actually this time. “What’s up I throughly you were going to text me?” She answers.
I sniffle. “Rina.” I choke out. “I’m scared.” I say.
Later that night
“You’re sleeping on the floor.” I tell Michael as we get ready for bed. My parents insisted we sleep in the same room because ‘you’re adults we know what you do’ is what came from my dads mouth.
He rolls his eyes. “Oh come on Sel, we’ve slept in the same bed before.”
“Yes in the same bed you cheated on me in as well.” His smile faded. “Floor.” I say throwing a pillow at him that he catches. He mumbles under his breath and I don’t care to ask if him to repeat it. I get in the bed and close my eyes wishing I was in Jordyn’s bed and in her arms.
My eyes snap open when I hear Michael snoring like a pig. Oh my fucking god! I get out of the bed and grab the bed set and leave the room to go to the guest room on the other side of the house. It’s usually colder on this side so I brought the extra covers so I don’t freeze to death. I get in the bed and it’s smaller but comfier and I immediately drift to sleep.
Jordyn’s POV
“You’re a dick!” Is the first thing I hear as I open the door at 5 in the morning on Christmas Eve by Zarina in her scrubs.
I rub my eyes from the sleep and I open the door wide so she can walk in. “Good morning to you as well. But can you keep it down, I have neighbors and Jason is sleeping.” I say going to the kitchen to make us coffee because I feel like I won’t be going back to sleep.
“Why won’t you take her back Jordyn?”
She asks as she takes a seat at our dining table and I lean on the door frame that separates the kitchen and dining room.
I sigh. “Zarina I understand she’s your best friend but please see my side and then pass your judgement.” She nods for me to go on. “I’ve been in love with Selene since she was just Ms. Kaci to me. I knew about her and Michael and they seemed happy and I was happy for her but I still had hope that one day just one day I could make her happy like that. And 5 years later I’m reintroduced to her as a completely different person I was before and have that opportunity. But right when I feel like I’ve got her in my grasp, she’s still technically someone else’s.”
“But she’s not his.” She retorts.
“But to her parents, the people who’s opinion and approval matters to her, believe otherwise. And that’s enough for me to let her go. I will not hide myself for the sake of a fantasy life. When she no longer is, then we’ll talk, but right now I don’t see that happening.” I say and the coffee maker goes off and I fix our cups.
“She’s going to end it all after Christmas dinner. I know they’re not going to take it well Jordyn, she’s going to need someone there.” She says taking the cup.
“She’ll have you.” I say and she shakes her head. I give her a confused look until I realize what she meant. Fuck.
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